engineering and ethics quiz

• Ben is assigned by his employer to improve an ultrasonic range-finding device. While working on the improvement, he recognizes that a novel modification of the equipment might be applicable to military submarines, which, if successful, could be worth a lot of money to his employer. However, Ben is a pacifist, a person who opposes war of any kind, and does not want to be involved in military work. So he does not develop the idea himself or mention it to anybody else in the company. He has signed an agreement that all inventions he produces on the job are the property of the company but does not believe the agreement is relevant to this situation.

Whether the military innovation would be worth much to Ben’s employer is:

• a moral issue

an application issue

a factual issue

a conceptual issue

• A conceptual issue can be resolved by which of the following?

• Finding an appropriate definition in appropriate policies or laws.

Coming up with a definition of our own by using paradigm examples of the concept.

Reconsidering factual evidence that may have been overlooked.

Either a or b

• Engineer James says that accepting even a cheap pen from a vendor is to engage in a conflict of interest. This is:

• an indisputable claim

an application claim

a factual claim

a conceptual claim

• Ben is assigned by his employer to improve an ultrasonic range-finding device. While working on the improvement, he recognizes that a novel modification of the equipment might be applicable to military submarines, which, if successful, could be worth a lot of money to his employer. However, Ben is a pacifist, a person who opposes war of any kind, and does not want to be involved in military work. So he does not develop the idea himself or mention it to anybody else in the company. He has signed an agreement that all inventions he produces on the job are the property of the company but does not believe the agreement is relevant to this situation.

If the crucial issue is whether Ben should fulfill his obligation to share his inventions with his employer or refuse because of his commitment to pacifism, it is primarily

• an application issue

a moral issue

a conceptual issue

a factual issue

• If Ben decides whether the potential military application would be used for offensive aims, or only used for defensive purposes, his issue is primarily:

• an application issue

a conceptual issue

a factual issue

a moral issue

• A manager orders a young engineer to remain silent about the discovery of emissions from the plant that might be dangerous for people living nearby. If the manger was willing to allow her supervisor to give her a similar order, this would be an example of:

• Rights Test

Golden Rule Test

Self-Deafeating Test

Respect for Persons Approach

• In the line-drawing method:

• the “features” selected should describe the negative paradigm and not the positive paradigm.

the “features” selected should describe either the positive or negative paradigm, but not both.

the “features” selected should help to determine whether the test case resembles the positive or negative paradigm more closely.

the “features” selected should describe the positive paradigm and not the negative paradigm.

• Which of the following is useful for actually resolving moral controversies rather than merely classifying them?

• Line Drawing

Line drawing and finding a creative middle way

Finding a creative middle way

Identifying factual issues

• Joe is a chemical engineer whose plant discharges heavy metals into the local river. By the test authorized by the city government, the amount of heavy metals is under the legal limit imposed by the city. By a new and more accurate test, the discharge is above the legal limit, that is, the discharge is in violation of environmental rules. Joe argues with his manager that the plant should reduce its discharges to comply with the newer and more accurate test.

The case contains a conceptual issue insofar as:

• the issue is what is meant by “violation.”

the issue is whether the heavy metals presently emitted by the plant pose a threat to the health of the community.

the issue is how Joe should balance his obligations to his employer against his obligations to city residents.

the issue is whether present emission rates constitute a violation of city regulations.

• To say that an action is “supererogatory” is to say that it is morally:

• permissible and praiseworthy.

permissible and morally obligatory.

impermissible and highly immoral.

impermissible but not seriously wrong.